Games

Tetris 99 50th Maximus Cup: How To Unlock The Kirby Air Riders Theme

3 December 2025
Nintendo Switch 2
10 min.
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Tetris 99 50th Maximus Cup: How To Unlock The Kirby Air Riders Theme

Summary:

The 50th Maximus Cup for Tetris 99 is a celebration of everything fans love about Nintendo crossovers, wrapped around a brand new Kirby Air Riders theme. During a limited window in December 2025, Nintendo Switch Online members can jump into Tetris 99’s online mode, climb the rankings and collect event points that go toward unlocking an exclusive layout inspired by Kirby’s new racing outing on Nintendo Switch 2. The event keeps the familiar 100 point requirement, but this time the reward is tightly linked to the buzz around Kirby Air Riders, with custom music, art and Tetrimino designs that mirror the high speed, candy colored chaos of the racer. For players who have drifted away from Tetris 99, this is a great excuse to revisit the puzzle battle royale and pick up a theme that might never return in the same way. For active regulars, it is a chance to show off skill, clear the requirement quickly and add another rare badge of honor to the in game collection while the event is live.

Tetris 99 50th Maximus Cup overview

The 50th Maximus Cup marks an important milestone for Tetris 99, not just because of the number attached to it, but because it shows how long the game has stayed relevant as a multiplayer staple on Nintendo Switch. Ever since launch, these rotating events have given players a reason to come back, chase limited rewards and see how Tetris can blend with different Nintendo worlds. For this round, Tetris 99 is teaming up with Kirby Air Riders, a high speed racer built for Nintendo Switch 2, and the new theme wraps the classic falling blocks in bright Kirby styled visuals and sounds. During the event window, anyone with an active Nintendo Switch Online membership can enter the regular online mode and start collecting points just by playing matches. The rules are simple, the time limit is strict and the prize is one of the most eye catching themes the game has offered so far.

Event dates, times and how to join

The timing of the 50th Maximus Cup is crucial if you want to unlock the Kirby Air Riders theme without stress. The event runs from December 4 2025 to December 8 2025, with Nintendo stating that it begins at 11 p.m. PT on the 4th and wraps up at 10:59 p.m. PT on the 8th. In practice that means European players are looking at a window that starts in the morning of December 5 and ends early on December 9, thanks to the time zone difference. To join in, you only need three things: a Nintendo Switch or Nintendo Switch 2 system, a copy of Tetris 99, and an active Nintendo Switch Online subscription. Once the event is live, launching Tetris 99 and hopping into the standard online mode is enough to start earning event points, so there is no separate menu or ticket to worry about. As long as the event banner is visible, your placements will feed into the special point total that goes toward the Kirby Air Riders theme.

How Kirby Air Riders shapes the new theme

The star of this particular Maximus Cup is the Kirby Air Riders theme itself, which acts as a bridge between Tetris 99 and the high speed racing action of Kirby’s latest outing. Instead of the usual minimalist grids or retro styled layouts, the playfield is wrapped in bright colors that match the hovercraft energy of Kirby Air Riders, with art pulled from the racer showing off characters and machines. The background music swaps out the regular Tetris 99 tracks for arrangements based on Kirby Air Riders tunes, so the rhythm of your stacking feels closer to racing around City Trial than calmly clearing lines. Even the Tetrimino designs pick up visual cues from the racer, making it feel as if each piece is another vehicle zooming down toward the surface. For anyone who has been spending time in Kirby Air Riders recently, the theme feels like an extension of that experience, and for anyone who has not tried the racer yet, it works as a fun teaser that might push them to check it out.

Event points, scoring system and how to reach 100

The structure behind the 50th Maximus Cup will feel familiar to anyone who has taken part in earlier events. Nintendo is once again asking players to earn a total of 100 event points during the window, with each match in Tetris 99 awarding points based on final placement. Finishing near the bottom of the pack might give only a single point, while climbing into the top half, top ten and especially the top spot yields increasingly larger chunks toward that 100 point target. You do not need to earn all of those points in a single sitting, and the total carries across the whole event period until you hit the requirement. Once the 100 point mark is reached, the Kirby Air Riders theme unlocks permanently on your account, so you can switch to it in the theme menu even after the event has ended. Because the threshold is fixed, you can approach it in different ways, either playing a handful of strong matches each day or grinding through many shorter attempts when time allows.

Tips to unlock the Kirby Air Riders theme fast

Unlocking the Kirby Air Riders theme quickly comes down to squeezing as many points as you can out of every match and avoiding strings of early knockouts. A simple approach is to play in focused bursts rather than trying to marathon the whole 100 point grind in one go, since fatigue tends to lead to sloppy stacking and unnecessary risks. Before you queue up, it helps to warm up with a few offline Tetris runs in another mode or collection, just to get your brain back into the rhythm of reading upcoming pieces and planning two or three moves ahead. Once you are in a Maximus Cup match, prioritize clean stacks over flashy Tetris line clears, especially in the early game, because surviving to the mid and late phases is what really drives your point totals up. If you feel your attention slipping, take a short break instead of forcing more matches, because a rested player is much more likely to hit top 20 and top 10 finishes consistently.

For newer players, the 50th Maximus Cup might look intimidating, but it is actually a great time to learn the ropes because the lobby is packed with people of all skill levels chasing the same prize. One of the best starting strategies is to stack flat and avoid leaving awkward gaps in the lower rows, since those gaps are harder to fix once garbage starts coming in from opponents. Use the Hold function to park difficult pieces like the S and Z shapes until you have a safe place for them, and focus on clearing singles and doubles to keep your stack low while you get comfortable. When deciding who to target, setting your cursor to attack random opponents keeps you out of trouble, as targeting badges or attackers can quickly paint a target on your own board. Most importantly, keep an eye on the next queue so you always know what is coming and can avoid panic drops that create messy towers. With these habits in place, you will find yourself reaching the mid game far more often, which means more points earned with less stress.

Advanced tactics for chasing Maximus victories

Experienced players who want to clear the 100 point requirement in just a few sessions can lean into more aggressive tactics. One approach is to start with safer stacking in the early phase, then gradually build a four wide or three wide well that allows for rapid combos when the field has thinned out. By timing those combo bursts with incoming garbage, you can send large counter attacks that knock out multiple opponents and earn you more badges, which in turn amplify your attack power even further. Switching your targeting between attackers and badges can help you pick off dangerous rivals and prevent them from snowballing, but this requires quick menu awareness and confidence in your survival skills. Practicing T-spins and back to back chains in offline modes pays off here, since those techniques let you clear lines efficiently while also sending heavy garbage. The key is to stay calm in the final ten players, where a single mistake can flip the whole match, and remember that even finishing second or third still gives excellent point rewards toward the Kirby Air Riders theme.

Why this event matters for Kirby and Tetris fans

This Maximus Cup means more than just another collectible layout for players who love both Tetris and Kirby. For Kirby fans, it is one of the first big crossovers for Kirby Air Riders on Nintendo Switch 2, placing the racer alongside other Nintendo series that have already received Tetris 99 themes. It signals that Nintendo sees the racing spin off as a major piece of its first party lineup rather than a small side project, and that confidence is mirrored in the care put into the artwork and music used in the theme. For Tetris regulars, the 50th event is a reminder of how long the game has been supported with fresh collaborations, tying modern releases to a classic puzzle formula that has been around for decades. Bringing those two communities together inside one intense event gives players a shared goal and plenty to talk about, whether that is favorite Kirby machines or wild Tetris finishes pulled off at the last second.

Comparing the 50th Cup to earlier Maximus events

When you look back at earlier Tetris 99 events, certain patterns become clear, and the Kirby Air Riders Maximus Cup fits neatly into that history while still feeling special. Many previous online events have offered themes tied to new or recently released Nintendo games, from big adventures like The Legend of Zelda to smaller surprises such as WarioWare or Miitopia. The structure has usually involved collecting 100 event points during a four or five day window, with each match paying into that total. The 50th Cup sticks to that formula but raises the stakes psychologically by tying the milestone number to a flashy, fast paced Kirby racer that is still fresh in everyone’s mind. The excitement around Kirby Air Riders also sets it apart from some of the revival or catch up events that simply bring back older themes, giving this Cup a stronger sense of being a one time celebration rather than a second chance.

What this could mean for future collaborations

Seeing Kirby Air Riders headlining the 50th Maximus Cup naturally gets people wondering what Nintendo might do with future Tetris 99 events. The pairing of a puzzle battle royale with a brand new racing game suggests that there is still plenty of life left in the collaboration idea, especially as more Nintendo Switch 2 titles arrive. If a Kirby racer can get its own theme, players can easily imagine future Cups celebrating other first party releases or even revisiting fan favorites with updated visuals that take advantage of newer hardware. At the same time, the continued use of the 100 point structure shows that Nintendo is happy with a familiar template that players understand, while experimenting mostly on the presentation side. For fans, that combination is ideal: clear rules, fresh themes and enough surprise in the choice of featured game to keep curiosity alive whenever a new Maximus Cup is announced.

Conclusion

The Tetris 99 50th Maximus Cup is a perfect excuse to dust off your skills, especially if the bright speed of Kirby Air Riders has already grabbed your attention on Nintendo Switch 2. By offering a limited time theme packed with exclusive art, music and Tetrimino designs, Nintendo is rewarding both puzzle veterans and Kirby fans who are ready to put in the effort to reach 100 points. The rules are simple, the window is clearly defined and every match played during the event feels like one more step toward a reward that will stay on your account long after the Cup has ended. Whether you are just learning how to survive the early waves of garbage or you are aiming for back to back Maximus wins, this event gives you a clear goal and a stylish trophy to show for your time. All that is left is to queue up, keep your stacks clean and let the Kirby Air Riders soundtrack carry you through those tense final moments.

FAQs
  • When does the Tetris 99 50th Maximus Cup with Kirby Air Riders start and end
    • The 50th Maximus Cup begins on December 4 2025 at 11 p.m. PT and runs until December 8 2025 at 10:59 p.m. PT, giving players roughly four days to earn the required event points. Depending on your time zone, this window may fall across December 5 to December 9, so it is worth double checking local conversions and planning a few dedicated play sessions across the weekend.
  • What do I need to participate in the Kirby Air Riders Maximus Cup
    • To take part, you need a Nintendo Switch or Nintendo Switch 2 system, access to Tetris 99, and an active Nintendo Switch Online subscription. Once those pieces are in place and the event is live, simply launching Tetris 99 and playing the main online mode is enough to start earning event points, since placements during the Cup automatically contribute to your special event total.
  • How many points do I need to unlock the Kirby Air Riders theme in Tetris 99
    • You need to accumulate a total of 100 event points during the 50th Maximus Cup to unlock the Kirby Air Riders theme permanently. Each match adds points based on your final ranking, so consistent mid and high placements are the quickest way to reach the requirement. Once the 100 point mark is reached, the theme is added to your collection and stays available even after the event ends.
  • Do I have to win a match to unlock the Kirby Air Riders theme
    • A full victory is not required to earn the Kirby Air Riders theme. While winning a match gives a large boost of event points, steady play that lands you in the top half of the lobby over multiple games can also get you to 100 points comfortably. The key is to avoid streaks of very early eliminations and to play enough matches across the event window to let those points stack up.
  • Is the Kirby Air Riders theme exclusive to the 50th Maximus Cup
    • Right now, Nintendo is presenting the Kirby Air Riders theme as the reward for the 50th Maximus Cup, which means participating in the event is the intended way to obtain it. While some older Tetris 99 themes have returned in special catch up events, there is no guarantee this will happen for the Kirby Air Riders layout, so treating this Cup as your main chance to unlock it is the safest approach if you do not want to miss out.
Sources
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